20 Great Movies Since 2000 That You Forgot Existed

10. Master & Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)

Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World was originally intended as the first movie in a potential franchise about the high seas adventures of one Captain Jack Aubrey. Based on a series of popular novels by Patrick O'Brian and directed by Peter Weir (the man behind Dead Poets Society and The Truman Show), Master & Commander positioned Russell Crowe centre stage as a naval hero with - ahem - funny hair. The film was brilliant, both technically, visually and narratively. It was also a bit of a flop. Which - essentially - spelt the end for Master & Commander: The Franchise. A true shame, given that this has to be one of the most underrated and ignored movies of the last 15 years. A soaring epic, visually stunning in every capacity, and crammed with fantastic performances and nerve-shredding battle sequences, Master & Commander was also nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture, which tells you all you need to know.